Britain accuses junta of ignoring its troops

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 6

Britain accuses junta of ignoring its troops

NZPA London Britain accused Argentina yesterday of sheer disregard for the welfare of its troops and demanded an Argentine declaration that all Falkland Islands hostilities were over, so that at least 9000 captured soldiers could be sent home before they suffered any further from exposure and hunger. There was no word from the Argentine -President (Lieutenant-General Leopoldo Galtieri) on the demand for a guarantee that Argentine ships and planes would not attack British forces off the Falkland Islands.

There were conflicting reports on the number of captured Argentines on the islands, and the British Defence Ministry attributed the disparity, at least in part, to incorrect reports from Argentine commanders. Brigadier-General Mario Menendez, the Argentine senior officer on the Falk-

lands, has made it clear he does not know how many men he had on the island, let alone where they are.

The British Government and the Royal Navy’s task force commander (Rear-Ad-miral John Wood) said there were about 15.000 prisoners, many of them in poor condition. The land forces commander in Stanley (MajorGeneral Jeremy Moore) was quoted as saying there were 9000 P.O.W.s and that they were not in bad shape. “With all these human beings in a very sad and sorry state, we are getting absolutely no co-operation whatsoever from the Government of Argentina.” said the Com-mander-in-Chief of the Fleet (Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse).

“We have neither a guarantee of safe passage for our ships, nor agreement for assistance in disembarkation,” he said. “The condition of these prisoners is being worsened by the sheer disregard for

their welfare by their own Government. We don't know whether the Argentines want them back." Admiral Woodward said that perhaps hundreds of men among the 15.000 P.O.W.s were in danger of dying soon.

■ He said that they were suffering from exposure, malnutrition, diarrhoea, and other ailments, and that the Argentines, “must be aware that I cannot keep their troops dry and warm and fed while we are still subject to attack. They must face the facts and call a halt to all, repeat all, hostilities.” The Defence Ministry’s spokesman, lan McDonald said that the 6000 British troops that recaptured the capital were also in very rough condition without change of clothing and without shelter for three weeks.

“They have had to fight for their lives ... through difficult country under a great psychological strain." he said. '